“Imagine you, 30 years old or something like that, and this is your first job. That was my first job with the best actors in the world. Sally Field, Rachel Griffiths, he says. “There is nothing left to the unknown with Rachel. She’s very, very specific and so professional that it makes you feel you need to go back to acting class for six lifetimes. Dave Annable, Calista Flockhart, Rob Lowe, Ron Rifkin. It’s sick. I was the only one on the set who never won anything. And [director] Ken Olin said, ‘You are the superstar.’ I said, ‘C’mon Ken.’ It was the first time I could tell the world I’m a little bit more than Dante. And I have a lot more to prove.”

Marini first appeared on DWTS in 2009. He and his then-dance partner came placed second. Now he’s back, dancing with current partner Peta Murgatroyd.

Last week as part of his dance routine, Marini flew over the stage in a harness. “That was not scary at all,” said the one-time firefighter. “The scary part was the dancing. Actually, my zipper was open. I was up and I thought, ‘Oh my God, my zipper is open!’ And I closed it.”

Just after last week’s DWTS appearances, Marini and Murgatroyd flew to South Florida where he shot a Perry Ellis print ad campaign. He is spokesman for the company’s Axist clothing line.

At a North Miami Beach private dance studio, Marini and Murgatroyd rehearsed a Bollywood routine for Monday’s DWTS episode.

I'm a nerd and proud of it. Two degrees in geology also means I love BEER. :-) I'm also a Derek lover - proud of that too. So don't scream at those of us on this site and call us a bunch of "biased Derek-lovers" - it's just ME. :-) It may sound like I hate DWTS at times, but really, I'm just a snarky nitpicker from way back. And I'm cynical and jaded too. But I do love DWTS. :-)

Whatcha smokin’ sunshine?? :-) Eh, you’re fun, but the best?? That would be Gilles… :::cough, cough::: Just kidding. :-D But you’re still not the best in MY book. :-) I’ve seen you and Kirstie’s shtick before. Some excerpts from Maks’ latest blog:

I really enjoyed the whole dance selection segment, but the problem was, none of us could hear what Tom and Brooke were saying on stage! It’s so loud in there, so when they explained how it was going to work, none of us heard it. Afterward, I went up to one of the producers and asked how the order was selected and they explained it was the cumulative score and the lowest couple picked for the highest couple and then vice versa. It’s obvious they wanted the lower couples to sabotage the higher couples by giving them silly dances, but nobody really did. Nobody tried to put someone down. Plus, I don’t think 10 seconds is enough time to strategize like that. Louis actually came up to me after the show and said, “Hey, are you really upset we gave you the Charleston? We think it’d be good for you.” And I said, “No, not at all. It was just in the moment. I don’t think I would’ve been happy with either right then.” But overall, I thought the idea itself was funny and it was different from what we normally do.

I’m so happy for Val that he’s made it past the third week for the first time. I love him and Kelly’s partnership. I love that they have emerged as a surprise contender, if you can even say that in an all-star season. I love their chemistry. I’ve known Kelly for a long time and she’s a good friend. She’s got an amazing story, from her youth to how she got to where she is now. I’m glad that audiences are recognizing them as a couple that’s up there. We have no idea what the vote totals are, but I really hope there’s a strong fan base behind them. I do wish that they would reveal the votes at least. I do believe that everything’s fair, and if it’s not manipulated, what do you have to hide? In a season like this, votes are more important than ever.

Poor, poor, naive Maks. :-) Dude, there are several reasons why you don’t reveal the vote totals. One, if they are low in total number, it’s just embarrassing. Two, it ruins the DRAMA of it all. If you knew who was getting what votes every week, just think how easy it would be to predict the elimination order or the winner? Yeah, I’m pretty much kicking ass this season anyway ;-) but there would be no challenge. Anyway…you DID TOO look like an ugly woman. :-)

I don’t, however, think I looked like an ugly woman. I think I’d make for a handsome woman! The whole concept was a lot of fun and obviously we were going for the androgynous rocker look because that’s what the era was like. I think that when you play a rock star, you go all out. When it comes to acting, if I were to play a role, there’d be a lot more research of the character’s mindset, etc. It’s very important to understand why the person was going through what they went through. Rock ‘n’ roll was a whole lifestyle. It was drug-induced. When we’re getting ready for the dance, Kirstie was like, “You have to act like you’re tripping on acid.” I’ve never done a drug in my life. I don’t have the slightest idea of what a person tripping on acid looks like. I’m not judging rock stars or their decisions because what they did was genius, but it’s very hard for me to understand what that was like.

The Insider has the bit on Maks and his cryogenics thing – didn’t Maria turn him on to this last season??

I'm a nerd and proud of it. Two degrees in geology also means I love BEER. :-) I'm also a Derek lover - proud of that too. So don't scream at those of us on this site and call us a bunch of "biased Derek-lovers" - it's just ME. :-) It may sound like I hate DWTS at times, but really, I'm just a snarky nitpicker from way back. And I'm cynical and jaded too. But I do love DWTS. :-)

During “Dancing with the Stars: All-Stars — The Results Show” on TUESDAY, OCTOBER 16 (8:00-9:00 p.m., ET), “Dancing with the Stars” Season 9 champion Donny Osmond returns to the ballroom performing a duet with international recording star Susan Boyle. Their breathtaking duet, “This Is the Moment,” will be accompanied by dancers Kym Johnson, Tristan McManus, Anna Trebunskya and Henry Byalikov. “This is The Moment” is from Boyle’s new album, “Standing Ovation,” which will be released November 13.

More outside dancers and Troupe. Not terribly excited. :::sigh:::

In Tuesday night’s “Macy’s Stars of Dance Performance,” choreographer Christopher Scott returns to the ballroom, but this time brings with him the Legion of Extraordinary Dancers (LXD). This powerful piece will feature 18-year-old internet sensation Christina Grimmie at the piano singing “Titanium,” with Jessica Keller as the lead ballerina. With stuntmen, snow and the LXD, this is a performance you won’t want to miss!

Also adding to the night of spectacular performances, professional dancer Cheryl Burke, along with four outside dancers, will dance to a live performance from Tito Puente Jr., who will showcase a medley of his classics. Before the night’s end, one more couple will be eliminated from the competition.

I'm a nerd and proud of it. Two degrees in geology also means I love BEER. :-) I'm also a Derek lover - proud of that too. So don't scream at those of us on this site and call us a bunch of "biased Derek-lovers" - it's just ME. :-) It may sound like I hate DWTS at times, but really, I'm just a snarky nitpicker from way back. And I'm cynical and jaded too. But I do love DWTS. :-)

“It’s always great when you get competitors who are now just entertaining you know they`re just doing a show,” said Derek Hough, from Dancing With The Stars.
But competition isn’t far away. Derek Hough and Gold Medalist Shawn Johnson are partners on this season of Dancing With The Stars.

“We`ve been rehearsing like all day every day since we`ve been here. If anything it’s even more stressful because we have to leave and make sure we stay caught up with everything,” said Shawn Johnson.

I'm a nerd and proud of it. Two degrees in geology also means I love BEER. :-) I'm also a Derek lover - proud of that too. So don't scream at those of us on this site and call us a bunch of "biased Derek-lovers" - it's just ME. :-) It may sound like I hate DWTS at times, but really, I'm just a snarky nitpicker from way back. And I'm cynical and jaded too. But I do love DWTS. :-)